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A city seen from the water

A day trip to Gothenburg

Arrival

You disembark in the middle of the city, and from here you can explore the city. No traffic and no need to waste time looking for parking (or pay for it). It’s easy to get around the city, whether on foot or using public transport. This is one of the reasons many people choose to visit Gothenburg for short trips. Hop on the first tram to your hotel – or the first destination on your itinerary.

Gothenburg central station
Poseidon stands majestically in the center of Gotaplatsen surrounded by a theater, concert hall and art museum.

Explore Sweden’s second largest city, Gothenburg.

More than rides at Liseberg

Liseberg is the largest amusement park in the Nordic region and, for many visitors, it’s a must to visit when you find yourself in Gothenburg. Entry is affordable, so it’s worth the visit even for those who don’t enjoy the rides.

At Liseberg, you can people watch, enjoy delicious food and drinks or enjoy the last few rays of summer sunshine while strolling around the idyllic alleyways or relaxing in one of the many small green spaces in the park. Liseberg gets busy in the middle of summer, but towards the end of August and in September the park is more relaxed with a lower visitor count.

Roller coaster at Liseberg.
Roller coaster at Liseberg.

Photo: Vintervit

Find the cheapest train tickets from Oslo to Gothenburg

Idyllic Haga

Haga is one of the most idyllic neighbourhoods in Gothenburg. Here, you will find vibrant streets with a wealth of shops featuring handmade goods, chatty shopkeepers and excellent quality products. The Swedish vibe is strong in Haga. Top it all off with a gigantic cinnamon bun: the iconic Hagabullen is massive! It’s absolutely worth trying, not only is the bun huge – it’s also fresh and tasty. There are several cafés in Haga where you can purchase a large cinnamon bun, but the original Hagabullen can be found at Café Husaren. PS: One bun is enough to feed several people, so why not order one to share?

Café Husaren also serves plenty of other sweet treats, including tiramisu, Snickers cake, semlor, muffins, meringues and much more. They also have plenty of hot and cold lunchtime temptations, including salads, open sandwiches, quiche, lasagna, soups and toasties.

Café Husaren
The famous Hagabulle
A selection of baked goods on display.

Café Husaren is well worth a stop.

Three recommendations from lunch to dinner

    Fancy a continental lunch? Stop by Le Comptoir and enjoy French classics like tartare, mussels and tarte flambée — with something French in your glass. Nice courtyard seating.

    More about Le Comptoir

    Da Matteo is a trendy Gothenburg café serving great coffee, Swedish pastries and hearty lunches. Visit the original on Magasinsgatan — lively outside, rustic inside, perfect for a recharge.

    More about Da Matteo

    Café Magasinet by Järntorget is perfect for dinner and drinks. A local favorite with leafy, industrial vibes, pizza, and a lively backyard — ideal for a relaxed, social evening.

    More about Kafé Magasinet
  • Fancy a continental lunch? Stop by Le Comptoir and enjoy French classics like tartare, mussels and tarte flambée — with something French in your glass. Nice courtyard seating.

    More about Le Comptoir
  • Da Matteo is a trendy Gothenburg café serving great coffee, Swedish pastries and hearty lunches. Visit the original on Magasinsgatan — lively outside, rustic inside, perfect for a recharge.

    More about Da Matteo
  • Café Magasinet by Järntorget is perfect for dinner and drinks. A local favorite with leafy, industrial vibes, pizza, and a lively backyard — ideal for a relaxed, social evening.

    More about Kafé Magasinet

Accommodation: three recommendations throughout the city

Gothenburg is the perfect city for a day trip, but why not extend your visit and spend a night or two? The city boasts a wealth of fine hotels. Here are three of our favourites.

Elite Plaza Hotel

Jacy’s

Lisebergsbyn

Palmehuset in Gothenburg.
Palmehuset in Gothenburg.

Tropical atmosphere in Palmehuset

Trädgårdsföreningen, a small botanical garden, can be found in the heart of the city. Not only is it a beautiful garden to enjoy lazy late summer days, but it also has a picturesque oasis of a palm house. The temperature in Palmehuset is always warm and comfortable and the exotic scents from the plants make it easy to imagine being somewhere more tropical. The perfect escape in the middle of the city when you want to get away from traffic and asphalt.

Tips: There is also a much larger botanical garden in the city, Gothenburg Botanical Garden. Perfect if you want a slightly longer excursion. Take tram 1, 2 or 7 from the city centre – it only takes 15 minutes.

A canal boat on the water.

Relaxing sightseeing and wind in your hair

Is there anything better than fresh sea air and a relaxation? Gothenburg is an old Hanseatic city with a tonne of history. A guided tour of the canals is a slightly different and relaxing activity to enjoy. Here, you will see and learn a lot about the city of Gothenburg, while resting your legs and taking it easy.

Book your adventure to Gothenburg

Hidden gems and vintage shopping

Second-hand shopping is a bit like a Kinder egg: it’s good for the planet and your wallet – and you can find some great deals. Gothenburg boasts many different second-hand stores with a wide selection and great prices. It’s also much more sociable and fun to shop vintage than to visit busy shopping malls. We have selected our three favourites, all situated in the area around Järntorget (Pustervik/Haga):

Myrorna

Four floors of second-hand treasure. This huge second-hand store offers clothing, art, accessories and knick-knacks at affordable prices. Myrorna could, in many ways, be considered a vintage department store. Here you can search for the perfect outfit just for you.

Gothenburg Dödsbo

A beautiful selection despite the dark name. This gem of a store can be found down a side street in Haga. You will find carefully curated second-hand treasures, perfect for those looking for something unique but of high quality. We particularly like the selection of Swedish ceramics and crockery.

Arkivet

For those with a sharp eye for detail and fashion. Arkivet is a modern second-hand store. They have carefully selected clothes that are suitable for further use without going out of fashion. The way the clothes are showcased shows a love for second-hand clothing: ironed, sorted by colour and displayed by category. There is mainly women’s clothing, handbags and other accessories to browse here. Definitely worth a visit during your shopping trip.

Second hand shop with ceramics.
Vintage shopping and second hand clothes.

Vintage and second-hand stores with lots of wonderful treasures.

From Oslo to Gothenburg quickly and cheaply

If you’re travelling by bus, you can opt for a Plus seat that provides you with extra leg room, an at-seat power outlet and the option to select a single window seat with aisle access and no-one next to you.

Have a great trip 💚

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